A Personal Library in Connecticut

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Robert Couturier’s library, adjacent to his Connecticut home, is built around an 18th century doorway from a Federal house in Newport, Rhode Island.

Imaginary Cottage Life Artwork

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I love this imaginary cottage interior drawn by Yelena Bryksenkova. I wouldn't mind having a tiny elephant on my bed or in my kitchen having breakfast. Have a great weekend. xo

Cow Kisses

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If this doesn't make you smile, nothing will. The animal world never ceases to amaze me. These cows seem to really love that dog and he adores their kisses. So sweet!

The Wisdom of Winston Churchill

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Beautiful Embroidery

Flower Detail: Top Panel of Jane Nicholas Mirror stitched by Lorna Loveland.

Middle Panel

I wish I could see the entire finished mirror surround, don't you? Oh, the power of a woman with a needle!

UPDATE: I found the entire mirror!!!

It's beautiful, isn't it? via

The Destroyers

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Ha. I'm so glad Webster can't jump on the furniture any more. This is my worst nightmare and I'm sure they drink from the toilet too. (Smile) Dogs really know how to get comfortable, don't they?

Wonderful One-Piece Back Splash Behind Stove

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I love this area behind the range because there are no grout lines for easy cleaning and it's beautiful too.

Rainbow at My Cottage Today

It was really a double but you can hardly see the top one.

What a Garden!

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Do I see train tracks between this farm garden and the beautiful old house? Farming is such a noble profession and I think farmers are born, not made. The love of the land and working the soil has to be in your blood or else it's just back-breaking work.

White Kitchen with Black Accents

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The overhead fixture is too fancy for me but otherwise I like this kitchen a lot. Love the Fornasetti images on the shelf.

Lilly Greed

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When you have time, please read this.

Abandoned House

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Photos like this break my heart. There's no one to tell this old home's story. I like to think it could still be saved. 

Nice Laundry Room

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Great laundry room. I wouldn't mind being greeted by these two when coming in from the outside. 

Follow The Boxwood Home

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Isn't this a lovely approach to greet these lucky homeowners? My back ouches me at the very thought of trimming these mounds twice a year though. I have a lot of winter kill on my three large English boxwood this year for the first time ever but I'm determined to baby them back to health. The American varieties fared much better. Last week, I clipped away at the worst one hoping to stimulate some new spring growth. Fingers crossed. Have a great Sunday. xo

Animal Friends

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The gang's all here for picture day and lookin' good.

Wiggly, Jiggly, Jello.

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Have a great weekend.

The Path by Kirsten Karius

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I love this photograph of a path winding around giant tree trunks. What a wonderful place to get lost.

Wonderful Cork-board Wall

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Imagine having a bulletin board (inspo board) this large. Heavenly! Love it.

Cat Burglar

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Cats are so smart!

Bathtub with a Marble "Headboard"

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This soaking tub treatment is stunning, isn't it. I found yet another bathtub with no grout. It's almost free-standing too with ease of cleaning in mind. The chairs are perfect on either side and I love the paneled wall with sconces and works of art. A fine woodworker did a fabulous job on the tub surround with chamfered corners as did the marble fabricator. It looks almost like a piece of furniture. 

Tabitha's New Cat Cafe

     I was feeling powerful yesterday and decided to tear apart my entrance vestibule to clean and declutter. Tabitha always wakes me up in the middle of the night to beg for food because Webster has stolen what I left out for her. I racked my brain trying to think of a new arrangement that would be dog proof and this is is what worked. When I woke up this morning she was already having breakfast and she was able to snack through the night so this setup worked like a charm. That's an old blue fleece pullover on the small bistro chair for sleeping. She needs the booster chair in order to be able to jump up on the makeshift table. The base is a heavy wire basket I use for firewood with a half-round piece of wood in old blue paint for the top. So far, so good. Her woven willow cat bed is in the room too on the floor as an alternate sleeping place. 

     Now my kitchen is destroyed and I have to work on it next. All the junk I took out of the vestibule needs new places to live and most will go to the basement and the garage. Some will be donated and other things will be put away for the winter. I have way too many scarves, hats, and gloves. Tabitha will be happier when I buy more cat food to fill up her jar as it's almost empty. A Costco run is on my list, maybe later day. Spring cleaning is progressing nicely here at the cottage and it feels good to be organized. UPDATE: I went to Costco and now Webster and Tabitha both have new giant bags of food. They have already sampled it and they both like what I brought home.

     Happy Tax Day. Hope you all make the deadline. I'll stay away from the post office today. xo

18th Century Baptist Church: Providence, Rhode Island

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First Baptist Church - Providence, Rhode Island

Shown in an engraving that appeared in an issue of The Massachusetts Magazine in 1789. This church still dominates the 18th century skyline of College Hill.

My maternal grandfather was a Baptist minister and he would have loved this. I've never seen such a tall steeple on a Baptist church and I'm so glad this historic one is still standing.

Coastal Maine Century Old Cottage

The shingled cottage on Southport Island, Maine, was built more than a century ago and is as close to the water as you can get on this rocky coastline.

Owner/designer Libby Cameron painted the staircase banister and treads in Benjamin Moore's Chrome Green. Most of the floors all over the rambling cottage are painted this color too. I like it!

The long built-in bench in the sitting room is where people sit and talk on the only phone in the house.

The owner's favorite place to sit. There is a screened porch alongside for outdoor dining. Want to see more? There's a slideshow here showing the carefree and charming interior. You'll love it!!!

Daffodils from Last Spring

I am anxious to see the daffodils bloom again this year. This bunch was picked last year from an abandoned house in the Great Swamp. It's not unusual to see lilacs, spring bulbs, and patches of asparagus growing along the walking trails where families once lived and gardened but the homes are long gone. The whole area is now a National Wildlife Refuge.

I am happy to report my riding mower started up yesterday on the first try. I rode around for an hour or so and it felt good. There is nothing like the smell of freshly mown grass to boost your spirits. Today we have rain and that's okay since April showers bring May flowers.

Rappahannock Valley Virginia Restored Home

via Architectural Digest

This photo gives new meaning to an eat-in kitchen. 

Be still my heart.

Dating from the 18th century, Rose Hill, the Rappahannock Valley Virginia home of Billings and John Cay, was restored by Tidewater Preservation and decorated by Amelia T. Handegan, with garden design by Rieley & Assoc., Landscape Architects. Click here for a wonderful slideshow of the interior. Enjoy. 

Wonderful Library Wall

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This looks like a fabulous room and I think there's a fireplace to the left. Don't you love the secret book doors? I want to see more of this antique home. Look at the size of those floor boards!

Farmhouse Kitchen

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English farmhouse kitchen with Aga range. So cozy.

Spring at My Cottage

We had a nice day yesterday for a change. The grass is slowly greening up and it was nice to spend the day outside. I raked all the gravel back in my driveway that was left in the grass after the plowed snow melted. That's my least favorite job and I'm so glad it's behind me.

My first spring bulb has bloomed. No sign of the purple ones yet.